Page 183 of Indecent Obsession
“Are you okay?” She steps closer. A concerned look on her face.
“Do you know what you just did?” I whisper.
“Stood up for a new friend. By the way, call me Nan. I swear my parents were drunk when they named me after my grandmother. Nancy.” She shakes her head and looks me over. “You good or do you need a minute?”
I draw in a breath, filling my lungs with air and releasing it, feeling so much lighter. Verity will still try to undermine me and make me the villain, but right now, I stood up to my bully and it felt great.
“I’m good.”
Nan smiles and sighs. “You don’t happen to be into girls, are you?”
I laugh. “No, definitely not. But Kayla is.”
“Good to know.” Nan smiles. “Let’s go dance.”
When we step out of the bathroom, the lighting is dimmer and there’s a quartet of strings playing what sounds like Frank Sinatra.
“Maybe we’ll wait for the DJ.” Nan shrugs and heads toward our table.
Verity stands there with her arm wrapped around Wyatt’s. It makes me hesitate. I draw in another breath and release it. She can cling to him all she wants. He’s going home with me. Finn watches me as I walk toward the table.
Olivia is talking to Dante and him, but she doesn’t notice I’ve drawn Finn’s attention. He sips his drink and gives me a private smile that makes the blood rush through me. Dante follows Finn’s gaze to me and the swarm of butterflies inside me doubles.
“Excuse me.” A gentleman’s voice startles me.
When I turn, the man from the jewelry store is standing next to me.
“As beautiful as I imagined. You wear the diamonds well.” He smiles and holds his hand out to me. “I’m afraid I’ve lost my manners. Peter Sokolov. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sara Morris.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Years of training make me automatically give him my hand. He turns it and brings my knuckles to his lips for a brief kiss.
I draw my hand away and glance toward the table again. Wyatt’s eyes are on me. A shiver rakes through me at his intensity. I can’t find where Drew is, but he’s probably talking to a colleague.
“I’m sorry if I shocked you earlier.” Peter’s voice is low and easy like he’s trying to sooth a stray animal.
I return my gaze to his and touch the necklace at my throat. “This was too much. I need to repay you.”
When he smiles, if I were into older men, I could see how this one would be a catch. “Would you allow me a dance?”
He holds his hand out to me and I swallow. Nan is now next to Dante. All their eyes are on me. This is a safe space to find out why he bought me diamonds. I take Peter’s hand and allow him to draw me onto the dance floor. A slow song plays, and he moves me into position for a waltz.
His hand lightly grazes my bare back as he takes my hand. We easily move around the dance floor in time to the music.
“I’m sorry, but should I know you?” I have to ask. He knows my name. He bought me a ridiculously expensive necklace. And he’s here at the fundraiser I’m attending. It’s too much to be a coincidence.
“I know your brother.” He spins me around, holding me firmly before settling back into the slow cadence.
“You know Tom?” I didn’t miss that his last name is the same as the woman Tom was supposed to bring. Verity’s supposed best friend.
He smiles like he knows all my secrets. “He works for me.”
I swallow as a little trickle of fear runs through me. Is this one of the new clients? Do the others recognize him? Does Drew, from his club?
I smile even as my heart sinks like a rock into my stomach. Is he the one looking for Tom?
“I have a daughter about your age,” Peter says softly. “I married young and lost my wife several years ago. But Natasha is my pride and joy. You don’t have children yet, do you?”
I shake my head. “Was Natasha supposed to be here tonight?”
